The COVID pandemic has led to a lot of changes in our everyday lives. Throughout lockdown, many of us have been staying home more than ever, and we only leave for necessities or to work. Because of this, less people are on the road driving. But has this had a negative effect on the amount of accidents there have been? The Philadelphia Police Department claims that with less drivers on the road, people are driving more recklessly.
If you’ve been in a hit and run accident and suffered injuries, you could use the help of one of our lawyers from Shrager, Sachs, & Blanco. We have experience handling these cases so we know exactly how to help you. We’ll get you full and fair compensation for the injuries and damages you suffered from the collision.
2020 Traffic Statistics
Since March of 2020, there have been less people on the road. As mentioned above, even though there are less people on the road, drivers are travelling faster because they feel safer to do so since there aren’t as many cars around. However, drivers speeding more often has caused the number of traffic fatalities to go up.
The Philadelphia Police Department notes that drivers speeding more often leads to more serious accidents, and more serious injuries. Increased speeds can cause more catastrophic injuries, or even fatalities. Compared to 2019, traffic fatalities in 2020 went up by 76 percent.
Some of these fatalities are from hit and run accidents. There were 31 fatal hit and run accidents in Philadelphia in 2020. In 2019, there were 13. Even when the accidents only cause injuries, hit and runs are still on the rise.
In December 2020, a jogger was struck by a car and the driver fled the scene. The jogger suffered broken bones when the driver hit him as he was crossing the street. Many drivers in hit and run accidents drive away in fear, but when another person is injured, they can’t do that. They must stay to make sure that person is okay and exchange information.
COVID Causing Reckless Driving
There are many factors from the COVID-19 lockdown that have contributed to drivers being more reckless even though there are less people on the road. According to an article published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in April 2020 there was a 30 percent increase in citations for speeding over 100 miles per hour compared to 2019 numbers for the nation. As lockdown went on, the number of drivers who were speeding likely only increased.
Unfortunately, speeding isn’t the only reckless decision that drivers are making during the pandemic. There are other factors that are causing accidents between the limited drivers who are still on the road.
One factor that could have contributed to drivers being more reckless behind the wheel could be that people have more down time from the lockdown. Since more people are staying home and drinking more, when they decide to get behind the wheel, they are even more dangerous.
If people are staying home more often, they aren’t driving as much as they used to. This can cause people to be less vigilant because they’re not as used to driving and being around other people. This can lead to collisions if they aren’t as prepared to drive or get nervous and make mistakes that a more confident driver wouldn’t make.
Novice drivers are also more able to be on the roads. Some areas have allowed teens to get their license without taking a formal test as a result of COVID. While this keeps them safe from being in close contact with a driving test instructor, this could cause them more danger on the road because they might not be ready to drive on their own.
Shrager, Sachs, & Blanco Will Represent You
If you’ve been involved in an accident where the driver who hit you fled the scene, then you could use the help of a Philadelphia car accident lawyer from our firm. You shouldn’t have to deal with these injuries and damages on your own, and you deserve justice. At Shrager, Sachs, & Blanco, we’ll investigate what happened and find who did this to you so that you can get the compensation and justice you deserve.
We have experience with hit and run accident cases, and we understand how frustrating it can be to feel like the driver who caused this collision has no empathy for what they did since they left you after hurting you. With one of our attorneys on your side, you can have peace of mind knowing that we will fight for your rights. Reach out to us today so that we can get started on your claim.
